The Nudge Toward Growth
Growing in our walk of faith is something toward which believers often aspire. In other words, if you asked a genuine Christ-follower if he or she wanted to grow more towards godliness the answer would most certainly be “yes”.
There are those who understand that this type of growth always requires making difficult decisions, lifestyle changes, and costly sacrifices. Then there are those who do not seem to “get it”. They believe that somehow, though they are not growing presently, if they stay their present course (same habits, same tendencies, same schedules) that this time the result will be different. This is the definition of insanity: Continuing to do the exact same things you’ve always done, but this time thinking that somehow the result is going to be different. If you want to grow, there are times when you must experience growing pains. Progress in our spiritual journey is not the only example of a painstaking process. Consider the following.
Have you ever studied how eagles teach their young to fly? When an adult eagle realizes that it’s young is mature enough and physiologically equipped to fly, they simply nudge them out of the nest. Yup, you heard me right. It’s “fly or die” time! Some may look upon this as cruel. But it is nature’s way. And it works.
I have a real love for the outdoors. This time of year when every other tree has already shed its foliage, there are still some oak trees that are hanging on to leaves. I have since learned that these particular trees have to wait until spring to lose the rest of their leaves. How? The old leaves don’t fall until the new leaves nudge them out. Some may look at this as a painful and grueling process. But it is nature’s way. And it works.
In Acts 1, the resurrected Lord tells His disciples that they are to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then they are to be His witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world. You have probably heard that verse (vs. 8) before. In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit comes. So the empowered disciples should have been getting about the task at hand, right? They should have been telling the good news in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, etc… So why didn’t they? This was God’s plan for them, right? Their obedience to this clear command of God would have brought about a great season of growth, no? Did they go, then, in Acts 3? No. What about Acts 4? Nada. Acts 5, 6, 7? Nope. Did God’s Word EVER go from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria? Yes, it did. But the apostles were not the ones to experience the blessing of sharing it (see Philemon 1:6 about the blessing that accompanies sharing God’ Word). In Acts 8:1 we are told that God’s Word makes it to Judea and Samaria. But it goes by the hands, feet, and voices of believers other than the apostles (other members of the first church). So how did it get there? It was the result of persecution. After Stephen’s martyrdom, a great persecution breaks out against the church. As a result of this persecution, some of God’s people are scattered (nudged). Where? To the precise locations that Jesus had told them to go in the first place. Isn’t it an interesting irony how closely related are Acts 1:8 and Acts 8:1?
Author Max Lucado says (I paraphrase), “God loves you just like you are…and He loves you too much to leave you that way”. That’s a good word! There are times when God speaks to us in His still, small voice and we hear Him and follow. But there are other times when we are insensitive to God’s voice and He must use other measures to ensure that we grow toward Him in faithfulness and obedience. It is in those times that God has to “nudge” us from our comfort and complacency.
Some may look upon this way of causing believers to grow as cruel. But this is God’s way. And it works. We have His Word on it.
Tony Foeller is the Senior Pastor of Anna First Baptist Church in Anna, Illinois
